Rotatable stand for supporting cable-thimble vise vertically or horizontally



Sept. 7, 1948.

R. M. LEVEIRA 2,448,535 ROTATABLE STAND FOR SUPPORTING CABLE-THIHBLE VISE VERTICALLY OR HORIZONTALLY Filed Oct. 31, 1945 INVENTOR ROBERT M. LEVERA KLM ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTATABLE STAND FOR SUPPORTING CABLE THIMBLE VISE VERTICALLY 1 Claim.

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) This invention relates to Vises and more particularly to vises adapted to clamp and support ropes or lines and thimbles during operations of securin such elements together.

Objects of the present invention are to provide an improved vise in which the clamping members may be supported either in a horizontally disposed plane cr in a vertically disposed plane; to provide an improved vise in which the clamping members may be supported first in a plane most I convenient for assembling ropes or lines and thimbles therein, and second in a plane most convenient for performing splicing operations tosecure ropes to thimbles; to provide a vise of the character noted that is rotatably supported on turntable means; and to provide for the carrying out of the foregoing objects in a facile, economical and eflicient manner.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein;

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a vise embodying the features of the present invention with the clamping members disposed in a vertical plane. A

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view, partly in section, of the vise shown in Fig. 1, with the clamping members likewise disposed in a vertical plane.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the vise shown in Fig. 1 with the clamping members disposed in a horizontal plane.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

The vise of my invention is preferably supported on a base plate I, preferably of metal or other suitable material. A second plate 2 is mounted for rotation on a vertical axis on the base plate I, the two plates constituting a turntable support for the vise. Preferably the base plate I carries a central upstanding pivot stud 3 that passes through a central aperture in the plate 2 about which rotation of the latter takes place. Preferably a spring actuated detent 4 is provided on the plate 2 and is adapted to engage suitable apertures 5 in the plate I to retain the plates in rotatably adjusted position.

A pair of uprights 6 and I are fixedly secured to the second plate 2 and are preferably con-, nected by a plurality of cross members 8, 9, and I0. Preferably the upper and lower cross memhers I and III are horizontally disposed and the central cross member 9 vertically disposed. The uprights and cross members are preferably formed of metal plates or other suitable material 2 and are welded together to form a sturdy frame structure.

A table II is pivotally connected to the upper portion of the uprights 6 and 1, preferably by means of downwardly depending hinge members 12 which are hinged to the uprights 6 and I.

- A pair of brace members I3 and H are hin edly connected to the second plate 2, lugs I5 and I6 preferably being provided on the plate for the pivotal connection. The brace members may be connected to move together by a cross piece i'l, Fig, 3. The upper ends of the brace members l3 and H are apertured. The table H carries a pair of fixed downwardly directed brace members I8 and I9 adapted to cooperate with the hinged brace members l3 and It to support the table in a horizontal position in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The fixed brace members are apertured adjacent their lower ends and a pin or stud 20 may be inserted through the aperture in the hinged brace members I3 and I4 and the fixed brace members l8 and I9 to secure them together in the manner shown in Fig. 3 and thus retain the table in a horizontally disposed position.

A pair of bearing members 2| and 22 are fixed to the outer surface of the table II adjacent the edge of the table pivoted to the uprights. A'spindle 23 is journaled in said bearing members and has a portion that carries right hand screw threads 24 and another portion that carries left hand screw threads 25. Clamp elements 26 and 21 are threadedly engaged on the threaded portions 2| and 25, respectively, of the spindle 23. Preferably a handle 28 is provided for rotating the spindle.

A third upstanding bearing 29 is provided on the outer surface of the table II adjacent the free edge thereof. The bearing 29 has a threaded bore therethrough and a. spindle 30 is'threadedly engaged therewith. Journaled to the end of the spindle 30 is a third clamp member 3|. A pair of guides 32 and 33 are preferably provided on the outer surface of the table for guiding longitudinal movement of the clamp member 3|. Preferably the spindle 3| carries a handle member 34 to enable the spindle to be easily adjusted.

Preferably the under surface of the table II carries a screw threaded stud 35 fixed thereto. The central vertically disposed cross member 9 has an aperture with which said stud is cooperable to retain the table II in vertically disposed relation in the manner shown in Fig. 2. A hot 36 is provided to be threadedly engaged on the stud 35 to hold the members in said relation.

A bracket member 21 may be provided adjacent the upper ends of the uprights and I to support a tool receptacle ll.

In the drawing the clamp members are shown as engaging a rope 39 and a thimble 40 which being applied thereto.

Operation When it is desired to apply a thimble to a rope or line the rope may be loosely wrapped around the thimble and the two secured within the clamp members 26, 21 and II. Said clamp members are moved into clamping engagement with the rope and thimble by rotation of the spindles 23 and 30. The operation of securing the 'rope and thimble within the clamp members is most conveniently performed when the table II and the clamp members are disposed in a-horiaontalplane in the manner illustrated in F18. 3.

It is seen that in the horizontally disposed position of the table, the braces l3, I4, I! and I9 cooperate to support the free end of the table.

When it is desired to perform the splicing operation, which actually secures the thimble permanently to the rope, the table is moved to the vertically disposed position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The pin 20 is removed from the brace members and the table II drops to vertical position. It may be securely retained in vertical position by engagement of the nut 38 on the stud 35. When the table is vertically disposed it is very convenient to place tension on the rope l! by means of a block and tackle or other suitable means and the free end of the rope may be conveniently spliced to the fixed end.

It may be desired to rotatably adjust the table about a vertical axis and such adjustment may conveniently be accomplished by moving the detent 4 out of engagement with the aperture I and rotating the frame to any position desired.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it is susceptibletoon without departing from the spirit of the invention. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited by the disclosures set forth, but only by the scope of the appended claim.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment'of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

In a vise, a base. a frame including a pair of uprights and at least one cross member, means supporting said frame on said base for rotatable movement relative thereto about a normally vertical axis. means retaining said frame in rotatably adjusted position, a table hingedly connected to said frame for movement between a horizontally disposed position and a vertically disposed position, bearing means on said table, a spindle iournaled in said bearing means and having a right hand screw threaded portion and a left hand screw threaded portion. a pair of clamp blocks threadedly engaged with the threaded portions of said spindle, additional bearing means on said table, a spindle threadedly engaged with said additional bearing means and disposed perpendicularly to said first named spindle, a clamp block iournaled to said second named spindle and being cooperable with said first named clamp blocks to clamp an object, brace means hinged to said frame, means on said table cooperable with said brace means to retain said table in horizontally disposed position, and means on said table cooperable with said cross member to re- 0 tain said table in vertically disposed position.

0 ROBERT M. LEVEIRA.

REFERENCES CITED 5 The following references are of record in the file oi. this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 40 153,551 Evans July 28, 1874 1,907,846 Mandernack May 9, 1933 23911752 Clark Feb. 27, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 259,583 Great Britain May 19, 1927 

